Ozarkroots 1987 Alweld Jet Restoration

[ozarkroots]

Hey! I'm brand new to the website because I just bought a new boat. I've done a couple restoration projects in the past. This morning I picked up this 1987 Alweld 1648 with a 75 Merc 50hp jet drive. The trailer sucks but I got the whole package for $1000. I feel like its well worth the money. I have to fix a fuel line leak and also the bottom of the boat has several dents from bouncing around on shoals but besides that all it needs is whatever I can dream up. I look forward to using all of your expertise as I work on this thing!

 

[thudpucker]

You did get a good buy. I paid $1100 a long time ago for my 1548 AlWeld as shown.

 

[Jim]

:WELCOME:

Thanks for joining!

Great looking project for $1k.

 

[Ranchero50]

A fine project boat. Keep the updates coming. What do you plan on doing with it?

Jamie

 

[ozarkroots]

Well I need to replace the carpet and hopefully somehow connect the front deck which is a little short with the middle bench. Also do the same in the back by putting a deck over the gas tank and such to extend the fishing room back there. I would love to use plywood and I probably will but I'm concerned too much extra weight will keep the boat from going up on a plan, which is crucial to run a jet. I also have thought about painting it a matte finish brown or green but the paint thats on it now isn't too bad.

 

[nathanielrthomas]

Have you considered selling the jet for a regular motor? As cheap as you got into that thing, it may be better in the long run if your worried about weight. Save on gas too. Or is a jet needed in your neck of the woods?

 

[thudpucker]

nat's got a point there. You should have no trouble selling that Jet unit in Alaska.
You might even trade somebody the whole motor to get a Johnson/Evinrude etc.

 

[ozarkroots]

Na boys the whole reason I bought it was because its a jet. I'm now going to be selling my prop boat. I run rivers here in Missouri and only he who has a jet catches the smallies! I'm just scared to weight it down too much to get over the shallows!

 

[thudpucker]

Eventually you'll learn to hit those Shallows going as close to 90Mph as you can get, with the load in the rear.

Avoid Grass! Weeds of any kind! Cat tails etc.
Sticks n brush are OK. Jumpin logs might hurt the boat but it wont bother the jet unit any.
I had a "Pick" tool for getting small gravel out of the grid. You need one of them too. Carry enough tools to go to the beach and take the jet unit apart.

I wish I had some photo's of the time my partner and I got gravel in the Grid up the Susitna River in AK.

We got it over to the beach, and were using the "Pick" tool and occasionally a Hammer to get the Grid open for water to flow.
Occasionally one of us would look up. You never know when the Caribou with your tag around his neck might wander in for a free ride down the river. Unfortunately nothing that fortunate happend.

We were about to button up the tools and git on down river when we both looked up at a young Grizz about 30' away, standing up looking at us over the tops of the Willow brush.

Them jet boats can take you to some pretty exciting places.

 

[Ranchero50]

Wow, a 50/30 is going to have trouble planing with a heavy deck loaded 1648. I'd go aluminum, shouldn't be too hard. Batts up front too.

Jamie

 

[ozarkroots]

Thats what I was afraid of. Well fortunately everything on the boat already is aluminum so a sheet or two more shouldn't add much weight and should do what I'm needing. Just as long as I keep those heavy smallies out of my livewell! What do you mean batts up front?

 

[thudpucker]

Batteries up front. keep the boat sitting level. Keep a little weight up front.

Also, with a heavy motor in the rear, you might turn into a stiff wind to head off somewhere, and the wind might lift the bow straight up over your head.
It happend to me in a 16' Starcraft with a 20hp Johnson on the transom.

 

[Codeman]

Well I've been hiding out but welcome aboard. Don't be scared of the 50/30 especially on a 16' boat. Check out my build up here. Where exactly are you located?

PS your story sounds way to familure. Decent boat, junk trailer, read through my build up. LOL